Help Wanted: Filing claims for partial unemployment
When your days are cut, you might qualify for unemployment if you make less than $405 that week, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit in New York State. Credit: iStock
But bear in mind that if you do any work anywhere else on a furloughed day, no matter how little, you wouldn't legally be able to claim unemployment benefits for that day. And the state Labor Department's definition of "work" for unemployment-benefits purposes is broad.
When your company has no work for you, the department would still consider you employed "on any day if you do any type of work, even an hour or less, whether you are self-employed, working on a freelance basis, working for someone else, helping a friend or neighbor, or working in connection with a public office that you hold. It does not matter whether you get paid or not. Even doing minor duties or favors for a business or someone else is considered work."
If you are unsure about whether you qualify, you should file to hear what comes back.
"The person should file a claim for [unemployment benefits] and have his/her eligibility determined," the department said. "We always encourage people to file, even if they're not sure they are eligible."
You should file your claim during your first week of total or partial unemployment, the department said. Otherwise, you may lose benefits. Your benefit amount is based on your weekly earnings, up to a maximum of $405. You also have to meet certain minimums for hours worked and wages earned in the 52-week period that precedes the date of your claim.
You can file a claim online at labor.ny.gov any day of the week. Or you can file by calling the department's telephone claims center toll-free at 888- 209-8124 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Your employer could fire you if it isn't happy with your work, but it cannot violate frequency-of-payment rules to reprimand you. For more information call the U.S. Labor Department at 516-338-1890 or the state Labor Department at 516-794-8195.
For more on unemployment-benefits eligibility go to http://bit.ly/1eHrvE6
For more on how often state laws require workers to be paid go to http://bit.ly/1mbFgNT
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